Posts

Posted on

Heat and Allergies – You Can be Allergic to Heat

Since the heat isn’t going to break anytime soon, I thought I would touch on the subject of heat and allergies.

Can you be allergic to the heat?  You can!

Cholinergic Urticaria is a type of rash or hives that is caused by an increase in body temperature.  The body temperature may be increased to to physical exertion, external heat exposure, emotional stress, or just eating spicy foods.  These hives are usually very small.  Smaller than a mosquito bite and more the size of a pin prick.  They can cover the face, torso, or legs and arms. They are more prone to appear where heat can be trapped next to the body as by clothing, the waistband of pants or underwear or the band of a hat.

It is difficult to properly diagnose this form of allergy.  Doctors can test using standard challenge tests or by exposing the body to heat. Treatment can be in the form of standard anti-histamines.  In some individuals, beta blockers can be used when the source cause is emotional stress.

This type of rash or skin allergy is not to be confused with heat rash.  Heat rash occurs when the sweat glands are clogged and the sweat can’t get to the surface of the skin.  Heat rash is not allergy-related.

As temperatures soar, grasses may start to release their pollens.  Pollens from grasses are very light-weight and are easily carried by the wind.  You might want to wear a dust mask for gardening (like the Q-Mask) if you are going to be outside on windy, dry days.

Trying to keep cool in the summer months can be tough.  But that’s why nature provides shade and cucumbers.  Did you know that the inside of a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature?  Cucumbers are mostly water, so eating a chilled cucumber can be refreshing.  They also contain anti-inflammatory agents. That is why they work to reduce swelling around the eyes.

I have written before about the benefits of cotton in the heat.  Sleep on cotton sheets and wear loose cotton clothing as much as possible.  This will allow sweat to evaporate, keeping the body cool and your temperature regulated.

Don’t loose your cool.  Come January and February you will be wishing for this heat!
Until next time
Posted on

Mask for Travel

On my recent travels, I only saw one person wearing a mask for travel.

Of course, the bulk of my trip was by car and the people with whom I traveled weren’t afraid of any germs that I might be sharing.

However, two legs of my trip were by plane and I did see one person wearing a mask for travel in the Houston airport.  From the sneezing and coughing I heard on the plane from Houston to Ft. Lauderdale, everyone should have had on a mask.  I am still waiting for that first tingle of the nose that tells you a cold is on the way.

Back when there was the H1N1 scare, the SARS scare, and the bird flu scare before that it was not uncommon to see people wearing a mask when they travel.

We are often asked if the U2 Sports mask is a good mask for travel.  The answer is “yes” if you are concerned about pollens and large particles of pollution in your destination city/country.  When my mother visited China, she said the residents referred to the heavy pollution as “the mist”.  As in “The mist is heavy today”.  How quaint and ever so much more polite than “Holy crap the pollution is so bad I can’t see today”.  It isn’t going to protect you from small particles such as bacteria and viruses.

If your concern is either catching or spreading disease, then the best mask for travel is the N95 Alpha Mask.  We still refer to it as the “Bird Flu” mask.  Because it is designed for 0.1-micron particle efficiency it will protect you against those pesky pollens and pollution particles, but it will also protect you on the plane or train from airborne viruses and bacteria.

Because it is lightweight, it doesn’t get hot and because it is disposable, it is inexpensive.

The person I saw at the airport was wearing an N95 mask. I wanted to ask her if she bought it from The Allergy Store, but I also wanted to make it to the Customer Service counter ahead of all the other people who had just had their connecting flights ruined by Continental Airlines.  So I didn’t ask her.

I also didn’t get to the Customer Service counter ahead of all the other people.

I also didn’t make it out of Houston that day.

Til Next Time!
Posted on

Allergy Control Products for Beauty?

So Saturday, I was speaking to a friend about allergies.  Are you surprised?  I’m not because it seems no matter where I go, people want to talk to me about allergies.  It’s all right, it goes with the territory I guess.  In this case, the conversation turned to appearance and the use of allergy control products for beauty.

Anyway, Saturday, instead of talking about my recent cross-country trip, the weather, the economy, or the best recipe for hummus, my friend was talking about dust mite allergy.  His daughter had been recently diagnosed and they were going through the process of cleaning out all the dust catchers and getting dust mite covers on the mattress, box spring, and pillows.

The conversation turned from the obvious benefits of protection from dust mite allergen to those that are most important to the heart of a young lady…..puffy eyes.  Yes, Virginia,  there is a Santa Clause, and dust mite covers can help you in your fight against puffy eyes.  Hard to believe that there are allergy control products for beauty enhancement?

Dust mite covers help with those pesky dark circles under the eyes.  In the allergy biz, those are called “allergic shiners” and are caused by increased blood flow to the sinus area.  When you cut off the exposure to the allergy-causing protein (from the mite feces and body parts) the blood flow to the sinus area returns to normal and the dark circles disappear.  Likewise for the puffy eyes.

Using a denaturing agent and anti-allergen spray like ADMS Spray or washing bedding with De-Mite can also work to reduce those shiners and puffy eyes.

If you have problems with overly dry skin or eczema, it can also be caused by allergies.  It might not be extra lotion you need, but some Allergen Wash!  Most eczema has roots in allergy.

No, I don’t think Avon or Estee Lauder has anything to fear from The Allergy Store. But you might find beauty really does come from the inside out; and when you have your allergies under control, shiners, puffy eyes, and eczema can be a thing of the past.

Til Next Time